Ancient Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times. This web site is my attempt to document, from my perspective, these "interesting times".

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Q: Senator Kerry, do you believe that the President is a liar?

This afternoon on the Ed Schultz show they were discussing the debates and
whether Kerry should come right out and accuse Bush of being a liar. Ed seemed
to be in favor of it, but I am not. However, the question of Bush's honesty is
likely to come up in the debate, so here's my chance to play debate coach and
suggest how Kerry should deal with it:

Q: Senator Kerry, a significant number of people in this country have begun
to question the honesty of the President, in both his domestic and foreign
policy. A significant number of voters believe that the President deceived
this country into war with Iraq. Senator Kerry, do you believe that the
President is a liar?

Kerry: The question of lying is a question of intent. Now it is clear that
the case for war was less than it was made at the time. But whether Mr. Bush
intentionally mislead this country into war or whether his administration
simply made a mistake is beyond my ability to judge. I'm not sure which is the
more disturbing option: that Mr. Bush deliberately mislead us into war or that
his administration was simply incompetent. However, I can tell you that I find
it deeply troubling that we even have to ask this question. It is disturbing
that we can't even be sure which of the these two awful options is closer to
the truth. It is a failed leadership that loses the trust of a nation's
people. When I am president I will work to restore the faith the American
people once had in their president.

Q: So you won't tell us whether you think Bush is a liar?

Kerry: I will leave that judgment to history and the American people.

Q: But your personal opinion...?

Kerry: <shrug>

Yes, I know the debate rules don't allow for follow-up questions. But this is
all fantasy anyway and I just like the image of Kerry shrugging in response to
the question.